Pretzel dough extruding and rolling machine



Nov. 6, 1951 w. M. YOUNG ETAL PRETZEL. DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 28, 1944 &

Nov. 6, 1951 w. M. YOUNG ET AL PRETZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1944 Nov. 6, 1951 w; M. YOUNG ET AL PRETZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE 12 Sheet-Sheet 5 Filed dct. 28, 1944 Nov. 6, v1951 w. M. YOUNG ETAL PRETZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed oct. 28, 1944 Nov. 6, 1951 w. M. YOUNG ET AL 2,573,754

PRETZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING'AND ROLLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 6, 1951 w. M. YOUNG 'ETAL 2,573,754

PRETZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944 12 SheeCs-Sheet 7 i ifinimmmn 1 f-" &7 a 57 I 1 a Will/I Nov. 6, 1951 w. M. YOUNG ETAL 4.

PRETZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE V I k Filed on. 28, 1 44 12 Sheet s-Sheet 8 Wzyiazazy Lard/1626.;

Nov. 6, 1951 w. M. YOUNG ETAL PRETZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE l2 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Oct. 28, 1944 Nov. 6, 1951 w. M. YOUNG ETAL PRETZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Oct. 28, 1944 Nov. 6, 1951 w, YOUNG T 2,573,754

PREITZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1944 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 77 ZZZ/22223;

F 22% a s Nov. 6, 1951 w. M. YOUNG ETAL PRETZEL DOUGH EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Oct. 28, 1944 \W 3 \N wk W mmi Paten ted Nov. 6, 1 951 PRETZEL notion EXTRUDING AND ROLLING MACHINE William M. Young and Lemon Blair Paules, Harrisburg, Pa.

Application October 28, 1944, Serial No. 560,852

This invention relates to pretzel makingmachines, and particularly to an improved unitary machine which will receive a batch of dough, knead and extrude it continuously through one of a plurality of orifices of various diameters, sever the dough into lumps of predetermined lengths, and roll the dough into the required sizes and shapes necessary for the final step of bending and twisting it into pretzel shape.

The pretzel making machines which have been designed in the past have certain inferior and unreliable characteristics which make them unsatisfactory in use. These undesirable characteristics include, among others: poor coordination of the dough rod producing elements with respect to the twisting and folding elements; serious limitations in the diameters and lengths of dough rods which can be produced as well as in their texture; and bulky and unwieldy apparatus having extremely limited adjusting features which result in the production of dough rods not having the proper sizes and shapes required for the making of pretzels.

The above conditions compelled the manual pretzel twisters and folders towaste time selecting only those dough rods that were suitable to be used, and, before proceeding with the manual twisting and folding operation, to lengthen the dough rod by stretching it to the desired length. This resulted in a porous surface finish of the dough rod which was detrimental to the production of a high class pretzel product. The principal reason for rolling the lump of dough, aside from obtaining the proper rod shape, is to produce a non-porous finish, which gives a smooth finish to the finished product, and, most important, closes the pores of the dough, preventing an over absorption of the dipping solution used for browning. It is just as important that this smooth finish is not in any way destroyed after being attained by the action of the extruding and rolling elements.

In the preparation of pretzel dough, the ingredients, which may be flour, sugar, salt, shortening, yeast, water, etc., are properly proportioned and placed in a mixing machine, better known to the baking industry as a dough mixer or mangle. This type of machine is responsible for the proper mixing and kneading of the ingredients into a mass of dough of a consistency suitable for the manufacture and further processing of pretzels. from this mixing and kneading operation is at the stage of processing suitable for feeding to the machine comprising the present invention and The mass of dough obtained Claims. (Cl. 107-13) its various operations of extruding, severing, feeding, rolling, twisting, and folding into pretzels.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an improved pretzel forming apparatus which will eliminate the objectionable features now inherent in apparatus of this type and which will deliver prefectly formed pretzels at a maximum rate by a series of coordinated forming operations.

'A further object of the invention is to provide a pretzel forming apparatus which will be completely automatic in operation from the time of feeding the dough thereto until the completely formed pretzel, is delivered therefrom.

A further object is to provide a pretzel forming apparatus in which the various elements are so synchronized that a single rotation of the driving shaft of a single source of power afiects the extruding and cutting of a lump of dough, the feeding of another preceding lump of dough, and the twisting and folding of a dough rod into a pretzel, while a second rotation completes the rolling of a lump of dough into a rod of predetermined diameter and length.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pretzel forming apparatus having means for adjusting its various parts whereby a maximum number of perfectly formed pretzels of varioussizes may be continuously produced.

Another object is to provide a simple, relatively compact structure easy of manufacture and maintenance, and particularly well designed for an easy removal of parts to facilitate the cleaning thereof.

Another object is to provide a pretzel forming apparatus including dough-receiving, extruding, cutting, feeding, rolling, and twisting and forming elements all of which include novel parts and arrangements thereof whereby improved pretzels completely free from the deleterious effects of prior apparatus are continuously produced in various sizes and at a maximum rate of production.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

"Briefly stated, our invention provides a pretzel making machine which is designed to receive a mass of dough from a mixing machine, and, through a pair of oppositely rotating cooperating tapered screws, feed or convey the dough into a tapering chamber and extrude it continuously therefrom through one of several orifices of various diameters. As the dough is continuously extruded or expelled from the selected orifice an and, by a pushing and lifting movement con forming in direction to the curved shapeof the feeding trough, feeds the lump to the rolling elements. These comprise a rolling cylinder anda series of hingedly connected segments having a substantially continuous inner surface which is spaced from the surface of the cylinder.

As the dough is rolled, pressure is increased between these surfaces by a novel arrangement of parts until the proper diameter of the dough rod is obtained. The space between the segments and the rolling cylinder is adjustable to the sizes or diameters of dough rods'desired. The segments do not move while the dough is being rolled, and the rotating cylinder is responsible for movement of the dough in its rolling action, while passing between the rolling elements. When the small lumps of dough are fed to the rolling,elements, they contact the rotating cylinder and are drawn into the space between thesegments and the cylinder where they are rolled, pressed and kneaded into the conformation of dough rods.

The rolling surfaces of the curved segments are provided with a series ofcorrugations which are responsible for the proper lateral distribution of.

point the finished dough rods areejected from,

the rolling units. Suitable means in the form of a hopper receives the finished dough rods as they are ejected from the rolling elements and delivers them to the twisting and foldingelements.

Suitable safety means are provided in the pres-.- ent invention whereby it is impossible for the various parts of our machine to get out of time or bind, so that the machine acts with precision and so co-ordinated in its functions that it is largely fool proof in its operation.

In the drawings wherein we have disclosed one embodiment of our invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the complete pretzel making apparatus with some parts omitted for" clarification.

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the left side of the machine with some parts omitted for clarification.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, parts being shown in plan.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary central vertical sectional view of the apparatus, some parts being omitted for clarification.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the doughsevering and feeding mechanism at the commencement of the severing and feeding operations.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 showing the dough severing and feeding mechanism, part of the severing mechanism being omitted for clarification.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical sectional view to an enlarged scale taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 showing the dough severing and feeding mechanism, part of the feeding mechanism being omitted for clarification.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view in cross section of the means for mounting and tensioning one of the several wires on the dough cutter.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7 showing one of the parts of the apparatus.

Fig. 10' is an enlarged central vertical sectional View, parts being shown in elevation, of the dough severing and feeding means, some parts being omitted for clarification. The feeding mechanism is shown at the completion of its cycle having delivered a lump of dough to the rolling unit, andthe severing mechanism is at the commencement of its cycle.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line llll of Fig. 10 showing the severing and feeding mechanism, parts being shown in plan.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view in elevation taken on the line i2l-2 of Fig. 7 of the mechanism for intermittently rotating the dough cutter which is shown at the commencement of its cycle, some of the parts being omitted for clarity.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, the parts being shown at the completion of the severing cycle, some of the parts being omitted for clarity.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged central vertical sectional View, parts being shown in elevation, of the dough lump feeding mechanism at the completion of the feeding cycle.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view, parts being shown in elevation, of the dough lump feeding mechanism at the commencement of its cycle.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line [6-46 of Fig. 15, showing one of two frictional resistance elements which cooperate with elements of the feeding mechanism.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged rear elevation of the assembly and construction of the frictional brake means for synchronizing the movement of the feeding mechanism with the intermittent rotation of the dough cutter.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line Iii-48 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 19 is a central vertical sectional view, parts being shown in elevation, of the oscillating means for the receptacle for the severed dough lumps.

Fig. 20 is a central vertical sectional view, parts being shown in elevation, a seen from the left sembly of the rolling segments to the side members of the rolling apparatus.

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on the line 24-24 of Fig. 23, parts being shown in elevation.

Fig. 25 is a viewin elevation of the left side of parts of the rolling apparatus, showing the relative positions of the rolling segment adjustment plates to the rolling apparatus side plates when adjusted for the rolling of the larger sizes of dough rods, 1 some parts being omitted for clarity.

Fig. 26 is a view similar to Fig. 25, the rolling apparatus being adjusted for the rolling of the smaller sizes of dough rods, some parts being omitted for clarity.

Fig. 27 is a view in elevation of theleft side of the rolling segments and rolling cylinder, showing their relative positions when the rolling segments are adjusted to roll the larger sizes of dough rods, some parts being omitted for clarity. The positions of the segments correspond to the adjustment illustrated in Fig. 25.

Fig. 28 is a view in elevation of the left side of the rolling segments and rolling cylinder, showing their relative positions when the rolling segments are adjusted to roll the smaller sizes of dough rods, some parts being omitted for clarity. The positions of the segments correspond to the adjustment illustrated in Fig. 26.

Fig. 29 is a plan view of the inner surface of the rolling segments which provide one of the two surfaces which cooperate to roll the lumps of dough into rods.

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a rolling segment taken on the line lit-3d of Fig. 29, showing its relationship to the rolling cylinder, and a lump of dough being rolled.

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a rolling segment taken on the line SI- SI of Fig. 29.

Fig. 32 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a rolling segment taken on the line 32 32 of Fig. 29.

Fig. 33 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of a rolling unit segment taken upon the line 33-33 of Fig. 29.

Fig. 34 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 3434 of Fig. 3, parts being shown in elevation, showing the extruding screws and hopper chamber.

35 is a front elevation of the orifice plate having a plurality of tapered apertures graduated as to size.

Fig. 36 is an enlarged perspective view of the construction of the indexing means for aligning and clamping the orifice plate during the operation of the apparatus; and

Fig. 37 is a plan View of one of the two tapered screws provided forthe feeding and extruding of the mass of dough through the hopper chamber.

Referring now to the drawings it is to be understood that, as seen in Fig. 1, the portion of the apparatus at the base of the drawing is considered the rear thereof, and the opposite side or rolling elements constitute the front of the apparatus. As further seen in Fig. 1, the left side of the drawing is to be understood as the right side of the machine and the right side of the drawing is to be considered as the left side of the machine.

The apparatus is provided with a sectional base or frame made up of a number of structural sections including side sections 100 connected laterally by structural members 1m all of which form together a rigid supporting platform for the various units of the apparatus. The platform i provided at each of its corners with legs Pl to permit completely formed pretzels to be delivered from the twisting and folding elements to a conveyor, etc. by means of the chute P381.

The pretzel twisting and folding elements are mounted on the structural sections forming the front of the supporting platform, the dough rod rolling elements'being suitably supported directly above the twisting and folding elements, and the extruding, severing, and feeding elements are positioned directly to the rear of the rolling elements. The supporting platform is provided, adjacent the front section, with vertically and horizontally extending structural members 102 which are suitably connected by lateral frame members 103 to form a rigid supporting frame structure for the rolling elements. To the rear of the rolling element supporting frame 'Hl2'l03, horizontal structural members 104 are provided which, together with supporting structural leg members 1%, form-the supporting frame for the extruding, severing, and feeding elements. It will benoted (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) that the supporting platform comprising the structural members and 1M and the supporting frames composed of the horizontally extending structural members 103 and H36, together with the structural leg members Hi2 and 205, all being rigidly bolted or otherwise secured together, form a very substantial platform and supporting frame member forall the various elements of the pretzel making machine.

Referring now to Figs. 1-4, 3 l37 and with particular reference to Figures 2-4 and 34, the numeral 500 designates the base or lower half of an internally tapering extruding chamber which is suitably bolted as at 56l to the frame member 104. The extruding chamber 500 is formed or cast to include at its rear end a combined bearing and gear housing section which has at its front end a pair of ball bearings 520 and at its rear end a pair of ball bearings 52!.

The rear pair of ball bearings 52l are suitably retained in place by a bearing plate 526. Insertable from the front of the gear chamber through the front bearings 52!] so as to extend through the gear chamber and the rear bearings 521 are a pair of flanged driving sleeves 519. The front bearings 520 being adjacent to the dough receiving portion of the extruding chamber 500 are provided with a pair of protective shields 5l9 mounted on sleeves M9 to prevent the entrance of dough within the gear chamber. These sleeves are rotatable in the front and rear bearings 52B and HI and are suitably keyed to the shanks of a. pair of feed screws 563 and 585 which are provided respectively with left and right hand spiral threads. The shank ends of the feed screws 503 and 585 are of the same length and extend through the sleeves 559 and are provided in their ends with threaded holes for the reception of a pair of cap screws 53d. These bear against the sleeves tit and together with theshields 5H3 retain the feed screws in proper position.

A pair of mating gears 522 and 523 are assembled and suitably keyed as shown on the sleeves M9 and together retain the sleeves 5I9 in their proper axial positions.

The extruding chamber 50a is provided with a top or closing section 5M which includes a part of a hopper section which in turn has an upper portion 506 suitably mounted thereon. In order that the upper section 591 may be readily removed from the lower section 500, a number of slotted lugs are provided at regular intervals along the extruding chamber cover 5M to cooperate with a similar number of swing bolts 51! pivotally secured to the extruding chamber 500 to maintain'both sections of the'extruding chamber tightly together. When it is desired to clean the extruding. chamber, itis obvious that.

the two sections 500 and may readily be separated by loosening the nuts 5l3on the bolts 5H, swinging the bolts downwardly out of the slotted lugs provided in the section 50l so that the cover may be readily removed from its position. .To insure that no dough is permitted to leak during operation the top edge surfaces of section 500 are provided with a continuous bead (Fig. 34) which cooperate with a groove provided in the bottom edge surfaces of thesection 50! so that tightening of the nutson the swing bolts 5 provides a perfectly sealed and leakproof joint between the two halvesof: the extruding chamber.

Itwill be noted (Fig. 34) that the top and bottom sections ofthe extruding chamber together 'form a twin pair of cylinders which are so tapered toward the front end of the chamber as to fully cooperate with the tapered spiral threads of the feed screws 503 and 505.

A tapered section or casing 502 having a front discharge opening is positioned adjacent the front end of the extruding chamber'and is suitably secured thereto. The top of the section 502 is so shaped and drilled as to receive a bolt 508 bearing the tightening nut 5l0. A circular plate 500 is pivotally mounted against the opening of the tapered section 502'by means of the bolt 508 and is provided with a plurality of extruding apertures of equal rear'diameter but which have different degrees of taper toward the front of the apparatus. The mounting of the circular plate 500 on the bolt 508 is so arranged that the extruding apertures of the plate which have varying front diameters may be, positioned in exact alignment with the opening of the'tapered section 502. Thus as rear diameters of the various apertures in the plate 504 are identical in size with the opening in the tapered section 502 while the front diameters, due to varying tapers vary progressively in size as desired, various diameters of material may be smoothly and efficiently extruded from the chamber 500, 505, 502.

lhe circular plate 505 may be rotated about its mounting bolt 508 so as to bring into alignment any of the various sized tapered extruding apertures therein with the opening in the tapered section 502. The front external surface adjacent the latter opening and the rear surfacesof the openings in the circular plate504 :are very highly machined so that a very closely fitting and non-leakable connection is provided, no matter what size extruding aperture has been selected. The circular plate is positively secured in any of its selected positions by simply tightening -the nut 5|0 of the bolt 508. To assist this clamping action, a shaft 5l5 is inserted transversely in a channel extension of the base 500 directly below the plate 504. A clamp assembly 514 (Fig. 36) is mounted on the shaft 515 and bears on its rear surface a pair of ball headed studs 510 which cooperate with any pair of openings 5L6 which are provided in the peripheral flange section .555. of the circular plate 500. It will be obvious that the clamp assembly 5M will maintain the circular plate in any selected position when the'studs 5l5 are drawn into cooperative position with the openings 5H5. This is accomplished by transversely mounting a bolt shaft 518 in the clamp assembly to which is connected aneye bolt 5 11 adapted to'extend rearwardly-through a boss of the base 500 below the extruding chamber and which may be drawn tightly thereagainst by means of the usual nut. Thus the bolt 508 and the bolt 5|! together securely clamp the circular plate 504 in proper position against the front face of the tapered section 502 to-form a perfectly sealed joint therewith and thus prevent any leakage of dough between the front of casting 500 and the rear of section 502 and also between the front of the tapered section 502 and the rear of the circular plate 500.

It will be apparent that the circular plate 504 by means of its different diameters of tapered openings permits the extruding of lumps of dough of different diameters. In order to change from one diameter aperture to another, the drive of the extruding elements is stopped, the nuts on bolts 508 and 5;? are loosened and the clamp 5H2 is moved forwardly so that the pair of studs 5 I 0 is withdrawn from the holes 515 of the circular plate. The plate 504 is now rotated manually on the bolt 508 until the desired aperture is in aligmnent with the aperture in the tapered section 502. The clamp 550 is now moved rearwardly so that its studs move into a new pair of the indexing holes 555 and the clamp proper bears against the face of the plate 3. The nuts on the bolts 508 and 5!? are now tightened and as the indexing studs 5i6 have located the selected aperture in the plate 504 in perfect alignment with the extruding aperture the front end of the tapered section 502, the drive of extruding elements is started and Will produce a diameter of extruded material corresponding to the size aperture chosen.

Suitable driving mechanism for th extruding elements is located beneath the gear housing portion of the base section 550. A front bearing plate 532 is secured at its upper end to the base section 500 and at its lower section to the legs 705 by means of spacing collars 54!. A pair of horizontally extending posts 538 provided with shoulders and threaded stud ends and mounted on the plate 552 supports a rear bearing plate 533 which may be bolted thereto. A shaft 5-03 is supported in bearings suitably mounted in the upper portions of the bearing plates 532 and 533 and at its rear end supports a large roller chain sprocket 545 suitably keyed and bolted thereon. The front end of the shaft 503 has a driving gear 504 (Figs. 2 and 4) rigidly mounted thereon which meshes with the .driving gear 522 of the right feed screw 503. A second drive shaft 55! is mounted in suitable bearings in the lower portions of the bearing plates 552 and 53.3. A small driving roller chain sprocket 554 is mounted on the rear end of the shaft 55! and has driving connection with the large roller chain sprocket 545 by means of the roller chain 550. A large driving beltpulley 553 is suitably keyed to the front end of the shaft 55| for connection with any suitable source of power. This power is obviously transmitted to the extruding screws 503 and 505 by means of the shaft 55I, through the roller chain 550, the shaft 543 and the meshing gears 550 and 522.

Diagrammatically indicated (Figs. 2 and 4) is a slack adjusting means for the roller chain 550 which may take any suitable form such as an idler sprocket adjustably mounted on the rear side of the rear bearing plate 533 to apply pressure to the roller chain 550.

The dough. severing and feeding elements Referring to the Figures 1 to 5, '7 to 13, 17 and 18 and particularly to Figures 4, 5, '7 and to 13, inclusive, it will be noted that many of the elements illustrated therein serve dual functions in that they assist in both the severing and feeding steps. Suitably mounted on the front channel section of the casting are a pair of vertically extending track members 564 each being provided with a T slot in each track with the open portions thereof facing each other. The tracks 564 are spaced apart a predetermined distance and are connected at their ends by the bracket 516 and the screws 512. A carriage which reciprocates vertically in the tracks 564 is constructed of a right side plate 588 and a left side plate 589 which are also spaced a predetermined distance apart by upper spacing rods 599 and lower spacing rods 59l which are rigidly connected thereto.

Four rollers 594 project and are spaced from the outer sides of the plates 588 and 589 at their upper and lower portions by means of collars 566 and are connected With the side plates by means of mounting screws 595 inserted through each roller 594 and its collar 596. The rollers 594 support the carriage in its vertical reciprocation and operate within and are guided by the T shaped slots in the tracks 564. A plate 598 for guiding severed rods of dough is mounted between the side plates 568 and 589- and on the lower carriage spacing rod 59! for a purpose which will become apparent.

Substantially centrally located on the plates 588 and 589 are a pair of shoulder bearings 599 which receive and support a square shaft 665 which ha turned ends in order that these may be inserted within the bearings. An elongated hub or sleeve 6 l1 having a square bore is mounted on the square shaft 665 and rigidly mounts at its ends a pair of triangular shaped plates 6). The square bored hub 6|! and its integral triangular end plates 6! are supported by the shaft 565 midway between the carriage side plates 588 and 599.

Three wires 6l9 are drawn across and connect each pair of corner points of the triangular shaped plates BIB and are then bent inwardly toward the hub 6|! to terminate in loops formed for the insertion therein of the screws 62l which anchor the ends of the wire. Intermediate the screws 62l and. each of the corner points of the triangular plates are adjusting screws 622 (Fig. 8) mounted in threaded holes and being provided with circular seats in their outer ends to receive small shoes 623 for rotation therein. These shoes are provided with slots for receiving the respective wires and to prevent the wires being turned a the screws 622 are moved outwardly to adjustably tension the wires 619 by means of a screw driver inserted between the inner sides of the triangular plates. 1

It will be noted that the triangular plates form a cutting device having the three equally spaced cutting wires 619, one of which is always located to the rear of and in horizontal alignment with the center of the square shaft 665 and closely adjacent to the front machined surface of the circular plate 564. The cutter does not rotate on the downward movement of, the carriage during the cutting operation. Accordingly rotation of the cutter must take place on the return or upward movement of the carriage (since the dough is being continuously extruded) to prevent a second undesired cutting by one of the wires 6E9. I

The cutter is prevented from rotating during sleeve 624 adjacent the brake shoe 625.

its downward or cutting stroke by means of a holding dog 6|3 mounted on the left side of the right carriage plate 568 (Figs. 6, 12 and 13) which engages a tooth of the ratchet gear 661 which is moutned on the square shaft 665 adjacent the plate 588. The holding dog 613 is held against the ratchet gear 661 by means of a spring 615 mounted on the frame 568 and connected to a lug integral with the dog 661.

The desired rotation of approximately degrees of the cutter in its upward return movement to avoid an undesired cutting of the extruded material is accomplished by a cutter rotating dog 666- mounted by the shoulder rivet 5!!) to the right side of a gear segment 668 (Figs. 12-13). The gear segment 668 is assembled on a hub extension of the ratchet gear 66! adjacent it left side and between the right side of plate 618 and the left side of ratchet gear 661. The moving dog 669 is held against a tooth of the ratchet gear 66'! by means of a spring 6 connected thereto and to the gear segment 608.

A rack mounting block 66! (Fig. 11) is connected to the rear surface of the right track 564 and supports three transversely extending studs 694 upon which a gear rack 663 is mounted. The teeth of the gear segments 668 are in alignment and mesh with the teeth of the gear rack 663. The rack 663 being fixed, reciprocation of the carriage in the track 566 causes oscillation or partial rotation of the gear segment 666. The length of the gear rack 603 is sufficient to eifect a rotation of 120 degrees upon the gear segment 698 to effect a similar rotation of the cutter. The holding dog 6l3 engages the ratchet gear 66! at the completion of each one third revolution to restrain the cutter from rotating in reverse movement while severing the extruded dough in its downward movement.

Since the movement of the cutter is dependent on the holding dog 6'69 and the ratchet gear 66'! which do not permit positive control, a friction brake is provided to prevent overrunning rotation of the cutter. The friction brake comprises a flanged sleeve like body 624 (Figs. 6, '7, 9 and 11) having a threaded end and a square axial bore for mounting on the square shaft 665 between the carriage plate 589 and the left side plate 6I8 of the cutter, the flanged end of the sleeve 624 being adjacent to the side 569. A brake shoe 625 is mounted on the sleeve 624 adjacent the flange and a washer 621 keyed thereto to prevent rotation thereon is mounted on the The tension spring 628 (Fig. 9), tension adjusting nut 629, and a lock nut 63!] are next respectively mounted on the sleeve 624. The brake shoe 625 is provided with an opening at its lower end for engagement with a stud 626 which is riveted to the right side of the carriage plate 589 and the stud 626 prevents rotation of the brake shoe when the brake rotates with the square shaft 665. This arrangement of parts together with the adjustable tension provided by the spring 628 prevents any overrunning or excess rotation of the cutter.

If during the cutting or downward stroke of the cutter a rod of dough were to adhere to one of the cutting wires 6I9, the guard 599 (previously described) will cause its removal and direct the rod into a receiving bin 63! positioned therebelow. As each lump of dough'is formed by severing the extruded dough and subsequently received in the bin 63!, it is individually transferred and conveyed by the feeding mechanism to the rolling elements.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 6, 10, 11, 14 to 20 and particularly to Figs. 2, 6, 10, 14 and 15 it will be noted that the dough rod receiving bin 63! is mounted upon a transversely extending shaft 633 which is supported in suitable bearings formed on the extruding base section 5%. Cam pieces 635 and 636 are rigidly mounted on the ends of the shaft 633 and are provided with hub members 631 which are rigidly attached to the ends of shaft 633.

The cam pieces 535 and 633 are each provided with cam slots of a shape which produce the required movement of the bin 63! through their operative relationship with main operating levers 640 and 84!. Figs. 1-11, 14 and 19. When the extruded dough is severed the bin 63! assumes the position shown in full lines of Fig. 19 and when rotated clockwise approximately of a revolution by means of the aforementioned operating relationship, i assumes the unloading position shown in broken lines of Fig. 19.

The operating levers 64d and 6 are rigidly mounted on a shaft which is transversely and rotatably supported in a pair of bearings mounted at the front of the base of the extruding section 595. The lovers 8% and 54! extend forwardly and have an operative connection with the outer sides of the cam pieces 535 and $36 by means of shouldered spring studs ass having cam rollers $43 thereon, the studs being riveted to the inner sides of the levers and the rollers extending through the cam slots of cam pieces 635 and $36. Spring members 6455 connected between the studs 5M and spring studs 839 retain the cam pieces 635 and F536 in proper relation with respect to the levers 669 and iiti so that the cam slots may effect the proper oscillating movements of the dough bin 63 i.

The operating movements of the levers $552 and BM effect in turn the movements of both the feeding and the severing elements, these levers being in parallel alignment. An oscillating or partially rotary movement is transmitted to the arms 64; and 641 by a connecting rod 848 connected at its lower end to a crank 656 which is fixed to the I drive shaft 10-9 of the pretzel twisting and folding elements. The connecting rod 658 is provided with suitable bearings at its upper and lower ends and the crank 65% is provided With an adjusting hub portion 555 for its connection with the rod 658 at the shaft 10-8 to permit the adjustment of the connecting rod 83% to obtain the proper synchronization in operation of the pretzel twisting and folding elements with respect to the severing and feeding elements.

The operating levers E 213 and (it! are provided at their front ends with cam slots which cooperate with rollers 869 which are retained on the studs 688 by means of the flanged nuts 678. The shoulders of the bearings 599 extending outwardly from the carriage sides 5% and 5855 provide a pivotal support for the arms 563 and 684 which are retained on the shoulder bearings 599 by suitable means. The pair of studs 6?! (Fig. 5) are mounted on the upper front edges of the outer sides of the plates 588 and 589 to act as stop members for the arms 5% and 55% which carry between them a dough lump feeding platform 685 which is suitably secured thereto.

The block Bill which is mounted to the rear side of track 564 has mounted on its left side a gear rack 558 and a block 651 is attached to the rear side of the left rack 554 to support a left gear rack 658 (Figs. 10, 11, 14 and 15). The right and left gear racks 658 are in mesh with 12 teeth which are provided on the rear ends of the arms 663 and 664 respectively. It will be noted that the racks 658 are provided with elongated vertical slots to permit their mounting to the blocks 60! and 657 and their vertical reciprocation during the operation of the mechanism.

In order to obtain the proper synchronized operation of the cutting and feeding elements, a predetermined amount of frictional resistance is arranged to retard their vertical reciprocatory movements. This friction device is mounted on the inner sides of blocks 60! and D35? (Figs. 16-18) in cooperative relationship in the following sequence. The racks 658, friction shoes 68!, tension springs 659, and roller mounted on the shoulder screw 562 which operates in the elongated slots of the racks G58 and is inserted through the above elements to screw tightly into the blocks 66! and A curved trough 5'53 is suspended between the receiving segment ill of the rolling unit and a point (Figs. 14-15) of the base below the center of the cutter. An end piece 57'! which supports the lower rear of the trough 576 is connected to the front end of the extruding base section 5063 and the trough is attached at its upper end to brackets 573 and 514 (Fig. 11) which provides the connection between the upper end of the trough and the two forward extensions of the tie piece 510 of the tracks The curvature of the trough 51B is such as to conform substantially to the arcuate path of the dough lump feeding platform 635 during operation thereof.

As the severed lumps of dough fall into the bottom of the trough 566, a movable stop 58!, which is pivoted to the lower end of the trough, retains the dough lump in a, position ready for feeding to the rolling elements. The dough rod stop 58| is integrally connected to a shaft 582 extending transversely and supported in bearing brackets 583 and 58 3 on the rear side of the end plate 571. The stop 58E pivots about the shaft 582 upwardly through a slot formed in the lower end of the trough 5'18 and is retained in its upward position by means of a spring 587 suitably connected thereto and to the trough. The stop 58| is moved downwardly by contact of the feeding platform 655.

As previously described it is highly important that the operating movements of the twisting and folding elements be accurately synchronized with respect to the movements of the severing and feeding mechanisms and accordingly the drive for the latter is obtained from the drive shaft of the twisting and folding elements. As also described, the connecting rod 648 which is connected to the operating levers 64B and 6 5! and the adjustable crank 65 i, moves upwardly and the levers 640 and (it! move counterclockwise about their shaft 651. At the same time the cam pieces G31 move clockwise about their shaft 633 and the bin 63! which holds a dough rod moves clockwise about shaft 633 until the angle of the bin is substantially 45 degrees at which time the dough lump rolls from the bin 83! into the bottom of the feeding trough 53 8. This action obviously takes place during the upward movement of the cutter carriage.

The dough lump rests in the bottom of the trough against the stop 58! and the trough acts as a guide and support in the feeding of the lump to the rolling elements, permitting it to slide as it is lifted upwardly. The dough lumps are lifted to the rolling elements by means of the feeding platform 665 which is supported in its movement on the swinging arms 663 and 664. The oscillating motion of the operating levers 640 and B4! swings the arms E63 and. 664 by means of their rollers 669 and the engagement of the latter in the slots at the front ends of the operating levers M and 641. It will be apparent that the levers 563 and S M also cause the vertical reciprocation of the cutter carriage through the gear rack 658.

Starting from the position shown in Fig. 14 the levers 640 and 6M and the arms B63 and 664 with the feeding platform 665 move clockwise about their axis the bearings 599 until the arms 663 and 1564 contact the collars 595 and the platform 665 is in a vertical position. The meshing of the teeth of the segment arms 663 and 664 with the toothed racks 658, the latter being held in their elevated positions by the friction brake 66!,

causes the cutter carriage to move slowly downward. On the contacting of the segment arms 563 and 664 against the collars 596, the operating levers 6 10 and MI continue downwardly overcoming the friction brakes GM and forces the racks 658 to move downwardly also, together with the cutter carriage and its parts until the platform 665 contacts the stop 58I to push it flush with the bottom of the trough 516. The dough lump now rolls rearwardly against the front side of the platform 565 (Fig. ready for feeding to the rolling elements, the bin 63! having moved counterclockwise on its shaft back to'a horizontal position ready to receive another lumpof dough.

The dough rod rolling elements and operating parts pair of plates N18 is adjustably mounted in con.

tact with the plates 10'! by means of bolts 154 which extend through arcuate slots in each and are retained therein by the nuts 15-5.

A rolling cylinder 189, preferably of metal, is

mounted on a shaft ill! for rotation in the bearing housing 133, and is covered over its circumferential surface with a fabric cover 136, such as canvas, fastened thereto by suitable rivets or other means. A sprocket 182 is suitably keyed and fixed to the right end of the shaft Hi1 (Fig. v

1) and engages an endless sprocket chain 186, to be operatively connected with a speed reducer sprocket 18 (to be described) to provide and synchronize rotation of the cylinder with the operation of the cutting and severing elements. The sprocket chain 185 may be provided with suitable slack adjusting means, not shown.

The rolling of the dough lumps is performed by the outer surface of the canvas covered cylinder 109 and the inner surface of a plurality of pivotally and adjustably connected segments mounted in spaced relation with respect to the rolling cylinder. The rolling segments, which may be of any desired number (for purposes of illustration we have shown seven) are preferably constructed cept the first two which are spaced a maximum 175 where the lump of dough is received but decreasingly spaced so that the rear edge of the second segment aligns with the front edge of the third segment. The space between the cylinder H39 and the rolling segments may be adjusted for greater or less distance by rotatably adjusting the plates N38 with respect to the plates 101 as will be described.

The rolling segments, namely, Hi to ill, are provided with tie rods H8 for the purpose of securing together the wood laminations which are laterally enclosed in end plates TEL-721. Attached to the rear end of each of the end plates "MI-12! are the rear suspension plates M8 by means of the tie rods H8 and nuts 126. Similarly attached to the front ends of the end plates of the rolling segments are the front suspension plates Ml (Figs. 2, 21, 23 and 24). The suspension plates Mil and MI which support the rolling segments in operative position act as hinged connecting means to each other.

Referring now to Fig. 24, it will be seen that the suspension plates 7% and M! are provided with a hub portion "M5 which is internally threaded for insertion of hinge screw fill. The screw includes a threaded section and a pilot, so that the threaded section will turn tightly within the threaded hub M5 and the pilot extend through reamed holes in the connecting plates 'MG and It! as a hinge pin. Each hinge screw Ml adjacent to its head has a shoulder for its proper insertion through one of the series of arcuate slots provided in the rolling'unit supporting plates 161 and the rolling unit adjusting plates 108 to insure the suspension of the rolling segments in their proper positions with respect to the rolling cylinder '09.

As indicated above, the segment supporting plates it! are provided with a series of slots conforming to the positions of the hinge screws 14! which extend therethrough and through slots in the adjusting plates 188, the latter plates having an adjustable relationship with the plates lEi'l which will be described. The individual segments are adjusted toward or away from the rolling cylinder 199 in accordance with the required diameter of the dough rod which is to be rolled. It will be noted that the arcuate slots in the adjusting plate 158 are angularly disposed with respect to the slots in the supporting plates Hi8 so that rotation of the adjusting plates 768 with respect to the plates 18? causes an inward or outward adjustment of the spacing of the individual rolling segments with respect to the rolling drum 189.

With particular reference to Figs. 2-5, 26 and 28 it will be observed that the contiguous series of arcuate segments (Hi through ill) have their hinged connections and. free ends so adjusted between plates fill and E33 that the free end of segment 1H is anchored against movement circumferentially of the cylinder 199 while it is accommodated and guided in movement radially thereof. This result is obtained by reason of the radial direction of the slot of plate m1 at this point. The angular relations of each other overlapping pair of slots of plates m7! and 188 is such as to produce a predetermined com pound movement toward and from the cylinder and circumferentially thereof. The amount of circumferential movement increases rogressively toward the end segment if? in order to accommodate contraction of the circular segment series. In this specific embodiment of the invention all of the hinged connections between the segments with the exception of the one between segments ill and H2 will be uniform in their radial component of movement. The same is true of the connection at the free end of segment ill. In order to provide the initially tapering space between the segments and the cylinder, the hinged connection between segments 75 I and ll? will be so guided as to maintain its proportionate spacing throughout the range of adjustment.

The rolling segments are most easily assembled by starting with the seventh segment H1 and positioning the same between the adjusting plates 153 8 with the tap threaded holes of the hinge plate hubs M in alignment with the respective slots of the adjusting plates H38 and the supporting plates 'ifll, and inserting the screws Ml therethrough until the pilots of the screws are extended into the holes of the hinge plates Mo and HM respectively. This procedure is followed with respect to each of the remaining segments in turh. Having assembled the seven segments Ill to H l in the order mentioned, each is connected with its adjoining segment to provide an uninterrupted interior rolling surface continuous from the beginning of the segment Hi to the end of the segment ill. It is to be emphasized that the center of each of the hinge screws it? is in substantial alignment with. the rolling surface of the segments and their adjoining edges so that regardless of their adjusted positions the continuous rolling surface formed by the segments are substantially without any abrupt or detrimental changes which would have a damaging effect upon the finished or 00.1-- pletely rolled dough rods.

The combined surface of the segments iii to "H5 are especially developed and include numerous herringbone corrugations angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the com bined segments to include an angle of substantially 60 therewith and the final segment H! has a canvas-like fabric material i555 attached to its rolling surface to produce the final non-porous finish to the rolled rods of dough. An ejector 25'? (Figs. 2, 21 and 22) supported by the ejector brackets 1'55 fastened to the inner sides of the plates 388, mounted immediately adjacent the surface of the rolling cylinder lo-9 where the finished dough rod leaves the segment H1. The ejector l5? prevents the adherence of finished rods of dough to the rolling cylinder 709 on leaving the last rolling segment NY.

A dough rod guide plate Me is hinged to the trailing edge of the last rolling segment 6|! by means of a plurality of hinges F59. Springs 549 are connected to each end of the guide plate its and loop over a pair of the rolling segment tie rod nuts 729 to maintain the guide plate in its effective position against the mouth of a hopper to be described.

The dough rod rolling unit adjustment mechanism Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 4, 20 and 23 to 26,

it will be seen that the adjusting plates 168 are 3 l8 which is mounted on the operating shaft 806 along the inner sides of the frame legs 152. The brackets M8 and their bearings support the rear ends of the adjusting screws 881' which are provided with suitable thrust collars located adja cent the front ends of the bearings 8l9. A miter gear M2 is suitably mounted on the shaft ens adjacent the left side of the right adjusting screw bearing bracket and meshes with the miter gear 8 fixed to the right adjusting screw A similar miter gear is mounted on the opposite end of the shaft 806 to mesh with the miter gear on the left adjusting screw. The hand wheel 832 (Fig. 2) is mounted on the extreme left end of the shaft 806 and is provided with a handle 803.

It will be apparent that manual operation of the hand wheel 802 by means of the handle 363 will rotate the shaft 806 and consequently the adjusting screws 86'! by means of the miter gears 8| I and 8i 2, the two adjusting screws 89? being rotated simultaneously to the same extent. Thus the adjusting plates I08 are given a partial rotation with respect to the supporting plates 10! so that the rolling segments supported in the slots of each are simultaneously given an outwardly or inwardly adjusting movement of equal magnitude so that the relation of the rolling surfaces of the segments with respect to each other is always maintained regardless of the size of the dough rod for which the rolling elements are adjusted.

More specifically, when the hand wheel 802 is rotated clockwise, the right hand threads of these screws 80'! engage with the threaded eye members 868 to cause a rearward movement of the extensions of the adjusting plates its about their axes (the shaft N8 of the rolling cylinder 10%). The described movement of the adjusting plate 188 results in moving the rolling segments closer to the rolling drum 709 due to the action of the slots in the plates 108 and ill! on the hinge screws 14'! to thus actually guide and retain the rolling segments in their proper relation with respect to each other. It will be apparent that the hand wheel 802 is turned in the opposite or a counterclockwise direction in order to produce a larger diameter of dough rods by increasing the spacing of each of the rolling segments from the surface of the rolling drum I09.

As previously described a dough rod on the completion of the rolling process is removed from the lower side of the drum 109 by the ejector l5! and is guided by means of the guide plate M8 into a hopper assembly which subsequently directs the finished dough rods into the twisting and folding elements. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 20, it will be noted that this hopper includes a front piece p-ZZ extending upward so that the guide plate I48 overlaps the same and is held thereagainst by the springs 149. This hopper has the usual sides and a pivotal rear side 158 which is mounted for pivotal movement on the hinges 169 so that it may also act as a deflector plate as will be described.

A second dough rod receiving bin E66 (Fig. l) is located immediately to the rear of the previously described hopper and supported at its front edge on brackets attached to the rear side of the hopper piece ii-2!. The rear of the hopper 160 is supported by suitable brackets mounted on the structural member 102. The function of the second hopper T60 is to receive such dough rods as should be imperfectly formed during a starting period of the apparatus or perfectly formed dough rods if for any reason the twisting and 

